WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. –Five takeaways from Thursday’s Purdue football media day and first-year coach Jeff Brohm:

• How quickly can Brohm begin to turn this program into a winning one? Only nine wins in the last four years and most of the losses were lopsided.

“We want to make it happen as quick as we can,” he said.

He’s backing up his talk. The addition of graduate transfers and junior college players should tell everyone Brohm and his staff are approaching this season with the win now mentality.

“We’ve got a lot of seniors that are very good players that have been productive,” Brohm said. “I believe as a coach and as a staff we’re getting ready to play this year and putting the best team out on the field with those guys to help them win.”

The biggest objective, though, is putting what has transpired the last four seasons in the rearview mirror and show the fan base and future recruits this is going to be different.

“It’s important to be competitive this year. It’s important to play extremely hard this year. It’s important that it’s actually visible to the fans and the people who are watching the game,” Brohm said.

• Part of trying to win now directly relates to recruiting.

Brohm wants to show players who are considering the Boilermakers to see how his program will look and function under the direction of the former NFL quarterback.

So far, Brohm has gained commitments from 21 players in the 2018 class, a solid and surprising start based on numbers. But it has to continue and how the Boilermakers play this season could open more doors.

“We’re on a good path now,” he said. “Is it important that we go out and win games and compete hard and showcase on the field what we’re about? Yes, it is.”

• On the surface, adding a kicker doesn’t seem like a big deal. In Purdue’s case, it was.

Spencer Evans announced he was transferring to the Boilermakers last week after spending the 2014 and 2015 seasons at Baylor. On Thursday, Evans was officially added to the roster.

While the Texas native will compete with J.D. Dellinger to kick field goals and extra points, Evans’ primary responsibility is to handle kickoffs. The Boilermakers had just seven touchbacks last season.

T.J. McCollum, left, and Danny Ezechukwu share a laugh as they sit with the rest of the players for a team photo during Purdue football media day Thursday, August 3, 2017, in West Lafayette. John Terhune/Journal & Courier

T.J. McCollum, from left, Danny Ezechukwu and Garrett Hudson pose for selfie as they sit with the rest of the players for a team photo during Purdue football media day Thursday, August 3, 2017, in West Lafayette. John Terhune/Journal & Courier

“It’s important to get the ball in the end zone,” Brohm said. “It makes a huge difference. We’ll see how the other competition goes. We were happy with our special teams and specialists in the spring but the one area we wanted to address was kickoffs and we made sure we had somebody with a strong leg to get that done.”

Evans eventually will be on scholarship.

When I left my previous school they told me I'd never play D1 football again. Today I signed my full-scholarship agreement to play at Purdue pic.twitter.com/n6iQAlq97U

• What was Brohm’s message to the players during Wednesday’s first team meeting?

The transition period is over. It’s probably been over for several months, but the start of camp signals the beginning of the march toward the 2017 season.

“This is what we do – the football part,” Brohm said.

Part of what will happen during the next two weeks is developing a mentality of competition and a fight to win. The players will have to be prepared to bring it every time they step on the practice field.

“This is an important time for us,” Brohm said.

• We’re less than a month away from Purdue’s season opener against Louisville at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Ever since Brohm became the head coach, he’s been asked numerous questions about playing his alma mater in his first game. Not only is Brohm facing the school where he was a star quarterback, but his defense will have to slow down quarterback Lamar Jackson, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.

“To me, he’s kind of like the Lebron (James) of college football,” Brohm said. “He’s an incredible athlete that does not come around very often and he’s playing the quarterback position. While he’s the best athlete on the field, he’s got quarterback skills which make him more dangerous.”